Some insight:
HS senior
my gpa for UC is a 3.4 and my gpa for common app is a 3.6 weighted.
SAT 1200
ACT 22
EC activities:
-Ice skating (two times bronze medalist in usfs open championship; passed movement certificate exams)
-cello (south coast youth symphony orchestra: austria tour, and segrestrom concert hall; oc cello choir member)
-drawing/painting: nixon library winner/exhibition, 1st place nasa art contest. (AP score: 5)
-Piano: 2nd place mtac concerto competition, and other branch conpetitions as well.
-photography: literary magazine features and one blog interview (taking AP photo right now)
-Volunteering: school ptsa, cello tutor, art and theater instructor in mowgli youth association.
Language: mandarin chinese
Schools I’m apply to: USC, Yale, Brown, Cornell, virginia common-wealth, syracuse, ucla, ucsd, uci, uc davis, uc berkeley, chapman, CSUF, boston university, rhode islant art school…more
I feel like my extra curricular activities are obviously stronger than my academics because those are the things that defines me, not the general school subjects. I take my ECs very seriously, not one of them is a hobby. I was told my a lot of people that my gpa and test scores are way too low for good schools. My counselor even snap at me and tell me to accept the fact that I’m “dumb” and just roll with community colleges and said that my ec activties are useless. I’m beyond nervous right now because my parents are telling me to apply to ivy league schools and some other amazing private schools, and I literally have no faith in myself because I’m about to spend 80+ dollars per application just to more than possibly receive a rejection. Yes I did apply for Cal state and UC schools (berkely, la, irvine, davis, san diego) but they’re more like my safety schools and I’m starting to have the feeling that I will get rejected by UC.
So right now I’ve never felt more crappy and depressed in my life and all of my friends are just pretty chill because they’re all A+ AP and IB students and literally have nothing to worry about.
Do you have any safety schools since none of the schools listed are safety schools? None of the UC’s listed along with CSUF are even match schools. I suggest you add San Francisco state and Channel islands, Dominguez Hills just in case. With your test scores and GPA all the UC’s you applied are Reach schools. Who helped you in determining your college list?
Here is the Reality:
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.40-3.79:
Gonna be real with you here… you have a very slim chance at every single school you listed. The only school that’s a match is VCU and maybe Syracuse, the rest are high reaches to no chance. There’s really no point in applying to any ivies. Your EC’s aren’t bad at all… but they don’t really substitute for any academics. You should look at some easier in state non-flagship school’s with higher acceptance rates/ones that fit your stats.
If I was advising you initially, I would scratch the ivies and maybe keep one of the UC’s that interests you most then add some more CSU schools with maybe UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz and/or UC Merced. I know the deadline has passed for CSU and perhaps UC as well so that is spilled milk.
Your stats are similar to my daughter’s.
She is interested in Business/marketing. Your grades are fine, reading CC too much distorts things. Not going to a UC or uvy is ok! She is applying to several schools that you could still apply RD (depending on your interests there are other schools that could be better for you). Some of her schools that still could be applied to RD include: USD, University of Denver, University of Vermont, Point Loma etc.
In addition to Syracuse And VCU, I think you might also have a shot at Chapman. What is your budget per year? You should add at least two more low match/safety type schools. If you tell us more about what you want, then we can make suggestions. You still have time but need to act fairly quick.
The CSU’s extended the application deadline for all applicants due to the wildfires, so add a few less competitive CSU’s than CSU Fullerton. Sac state, SFSU, Chico state, Sonoma State all have good programs.
RSD definitely does not have super high tests scores so I would still apply there if your art is really standout and you really, really want to go. I think you have a better chance as a complete reach at an art school than any other kind of school. Good luck!
University of Denver has both a strong music school and a serious figure skating club team. They offer an art BA and a studio art BFA. Your stats are a bit below median there, but you’re in range and they accept 73% of applicants, so it’s definitely a school where your extracurricular strengths are likely to tip things in your favor.
Ithaca College also has a great music program and an active figure skating program. They offer both a BA and a BFA in studio art. Your weighted GPA is right at their median; your SAT is at 25th percentile, but they are test-optional. They accept 67% of applicants, so this is another school where your EC’s would be likely to sway the decision in the right direction.
St. Olaf is another school with an extremely strong music program that permeates the campus culture. They have a figure skating club, and they just broke ground on a new ice arena. They offer a studio art BA but not a BFA. As with Ithaca, your weighted GPA is at median but your SAT is 25th percentile… but St. Olaf has a lower acceptance rate and isn’t test-optional, so it would be a reach unless you were to apply ED2. (Their ED acceptance rate is 80%, whereas their overall acceptance rate is only 36%) Unlike Denver and Ithaca, St. Olaf meets virtually all documented financial need (99%), so if you need financial aid, that would be a strong consideration.
All of these schools provide environments where you could pursue all of your extracurricular passions while being well-supported in finding an academic path that fits your interests and goals. Their affordability is comparable to other schools on your list, but with better admissions chances. Look for “fit” at schools like these, and they are more likely to see fit in you.
I think your ECs are great, but unfortunately academics are most important. Your ECs can help you get into somewhere that has slightly higher average stats, but not somewhere like Yale.
I think aquapt gives some great suggestions and I also agree with people saying Chapman and Syracuse.
I’m not an expert like some people on this forum, but maybe applying to test-optional schools could help you get into a higher-ranked school. American University and Clark University are both test-optional, and have average GPAs of 3.47-4.00 and 3.63, respectively.
NYU is also test-optional for programs that require an audition or portfolio, and average GPA is a 3.6+. Because your art ECs are strong, I wonder if you could have a shot, although this is probably a reach.
You have awesome ECs. You need to be at a college where you can succeed academically so that you have time and energy and confidence to pursue these. You have some great options above. Please consider adding some to your list.
Drew University in NJ -- beautiful campus, on train line to NYC (v close) and has a happy atmosphere. They don't have ice skating on campus, but I just feel that you might enjoy this school. I put it on your list! Easy to get to. I've read about other student athletes who love Drew -- it's got a great combo of practical classes, a pretty campus, and room to be an athlete and do other ECs. Drew has a lot of arts too.
Indiana University in Bloomington -- Gorgeous campus, has figure skating
Indiana University - Bloomington, Indiana
Midwestern Section
Very large (over 25,000 students)
On-campus rink: No
School funding: $6,000
Number of Skaters: 18-24 skaters
Number of On-Ice Practice per Week: 3 hours
Team E-mail: iufsc@indiana.edu
Marquette University has a team, and your stats fit as a match. Great school!
Mid-size (5,000-10,000 students)
On-campus rink: No
School funding: $650
Number of Skaters: 9-12 skaters
Number of On-Ice Practice per Week: 8 hours
Team E-mail: helen.kash@marquette.edu
Website: Marquette Figure Skating
Merrimack would be a safety for you.
Merrimack College – North Andover, Mass.
Eastern Section
Small (1,000-5,000 students)
On-campus rink: Yes
School funding: $1,500
Number of Skaters: 5-8 skaters
Number of On-Ice Practice per Week: 7 hours
Team E-mail: kirkd@merrimack.edu
Website: N/A
Miami U at Oxford OH is a safety for you
Miami University – Oxford, Ohio
Midwestern Section
Large (10,000-25,000 students)
On-campus rink: Yes
School funding: $2900
Number of Skaters: 40+ Skaters
Number of On-Ice Practice per Week: 2 hours
Team E-mail: leeah2@miamioh.edu
Website: Miami Skating Club Facebook Page
Michigan State U would be a safety for you
Michigan State University – East Lansing, Michigan
Midwestern Section
Very large (over 25,000 students)
On-campus rink: Yes
School funding: No
Number of Skaters: 18-24 skaters
Number of On-Ice Practice per Week: 1 hour
Team E-mail: msufigureskating@gmail.com
Website: Miami Skating Club Facebook Page
Penn State would be a safety for you
Penn State University – State College, Pennsylvania
Eastern Section
Very Large (Over 25,000 students)
On-campus rink: Yes
School funding: $500
Number of Skaters: 18-24 skaters
Number of On-Ice Practice per Week: 1 hour
Team E-mail: alpannepacker@gmail.com
Website: N/A
UConn at Stores would be a safety for you
University of Connecticut – Storrs, Connecticut
Pacific Coast Section
Very large (over 25,000 students)
On-campus rink: Yes
School funding: $31,000
Number of Skaters: 13-17 skaters
Number of On-Ice Practice per Week: 4 hours
Team E-mail: figureskating.uconn@gmail.com
Website: uconnfigureskating.■■■■■■■■■■
U of Deleware would be a safety AND it has an excellent ART PROGRAM
University of Delaware – Newark, Delaware
Eastern Section
Large (10,000-25,000 students)
On-campus rink: Yes
School funding: $15,000
Number of Skaters: 31-40 skaters
Number of On-Ice Practice per Week: 1 hour
Team E-mail: udfigureskatingteam@gmail.com
Website: http://www.udfigureskating.com/
Miami University is most definitely not a safety for this student. Last year for admitted students, the middle SAT range was 1230-1390 and GPA range was 3.59-4.18. The OP’s stats put him or her in the bottom 25% of that.
OP, have your parents told you what they can pay each year?
The problem is not your academics – they are good enough to qualify you for many wonderful colleges throughout the US. The problem is that you are focused on colleges that are above your academic range. Your ECs are strong and interesting but they won’t get you into a college you are not otherwise qualified for. I’d urge you to take an honest look at your stats and be realistic in terms of where you fit in. You will also need to run net price calculators to determine what options are affordable. If you need ideas try to get your hands on one of the excellent college guide books (ex. Fiske, Princeton Review) at your guidance office or library.
So much good advice here! I just have a couple of things to say. If your college counselor told you that you are dumb, that is awful and unprofessional. I might say you should disregard his/her advice from now on or at least take it with a barrel full of salt and research and recheck everything he/she says. Also, it sounds like your college list came from your parents, and the fact that it is pretty unreachable is stressing you out. Can you talk to your parents about the reality of admissions to those schools for a student with your stats? I’m sure that your parents care and are invested in your success…so you need to be at a school that matches your strengths and will allow a student like you to thrive and succeed.
You’re a little different from your A+ IB, AP friends. You have amazing EC accomplishments that I’m guessing they don’t. Your kind of investment and success in the arts takes time, effort and talent.
Finally, what do you want to study? Arts, music, or non-arts? Do you want to continue your skating career in college? These kinds of questions will help you find a school that fits you, rather than a list of super selective schools that fits the super- high academic stat students, or dare I say fits the parents’ aspirations/expectations of sending their child to a school based on status.
Are you from California? What is your budget? What is the geographic area that you are aiming at for schools to apply to?
I agree with other comments above that you have a lot of schools on your list that you are not going to get into.
At least in my opinion Yale, Brown, Cornell, ucla, uc berkeley are completely hopeless with your GPA and SAT scores. Many of the others on your list are high reaches, although there are some like “rhode islant art school” that I am not familiar with.
You are also running into or past the application deadline for some schools.
Some good news is that California has a very good community college system. If you go this route, then try to keep your GPA up while in community college.
If you wanted to come to the northeast (my corner of the country), then U.Mass Lowell, UNH, and U.Maine would be possibilities. I am pretty sure that there is still time to apply to all of them. As you might imagine we do have some pretty good ice skating up here.
echoing several comments above. From your list, only Fullerton looks likely. Assuming you are from CA, i’d add a couple of additional CSUs - maybe Chico, Northridge and Sonoma while you have time. UNR is another school worth consideration. They offer a big tuition discount to California students with your stats.
If one of the Ivies comes through - great. If not, you’ll have several options.